LOS ANGELES – Perhaps the one injury that USC couldn’t afford came on the seventh play of the game Saturday night, when center Marcus Martin went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

In his first year in the middle of the Trojans’ line, Martin, a junior, had been a strong blocker and an on-field leader, charged with identifying defenses and changing blocking schemes. Without Martin, who didn’t return to the game, USC struggled in pass coverage and had to go run-heavy on offense.

USC turned to Abe Markowitz, a walk-on sixth-year senior who has primarily played guard at USC.

USC was only three plays into its first offensive series when quarterback Cody Kessler’s pass attempt to Marqise Lee fell incomplete. Martin apparently got tangled while blocking.

Trainers tended to Martin’s left knee on the field and, eventually, a cart was driven onto the field. Martin stood, with help, but could not put any pressure on the leg and he was driven off the field. Kessler was sacked three times on USC’s next 12 offensive plays.

USC doubled down on the offensive line woes on the third play of the third quarter, when starting guard Aundrey Walker had to leave because of a left-leg injury. Walker was replaced by John Martinez, who had lost his starting job to Walker early this season.

BOWL SCENARIOS

USC’s bowl destination remains unclear, and is unlikely to be determined until after next Saturday’s Pac-12 Conference championship game between Stanford and Arizona State.

The winner of that game is headed to the Rose Bowl. The Alamo Bowl has the next choice of Pac-12 teams and, presumably, would take the loser of the title game, but the Alamo Bowl (on Dec. 30 in San Antonio) was thought to have strong interest in USC before Saturday’s loss.

USC’s likely destination might be the Holiday Bowl or the Las Vegas Bowl. The Sun Bowl is also a possibility, but El Paso is thought to be down on the idea of hosting the Trojans for a second consecutive year.

USC’s bowl destination remains unclear, and won’t be finalized until after next week’s Pac-12 title game between Stanford and Arizona State.

USC’s likely destination is the Las Vegas Bowl, held on Dec. 21.

The winner of the Pac-12 title game is headed to the Rose Bowl. The Alamo Bowl has the next choice of Pac-12 teams and, presumably, would take the loser of the title game. The Alamo Bowl (on Dec. 30 in San Antonio) was thought to have strong interest in USC before Saturday’s loss.

The Sun Bowl is also a possibility for USC, but El Paso is thought to be down on the idea of hosting the Trojans for a second consecutive year.

Representatives from the Alamo, Holiday and Sugar bowls were expected to attend Saturday’s game.

REDD RETURNS

Senior tailback Silas Redd, who missed the previous two games because of a knee injury, returned and had 25 yards on five carries. Redd was a part of USC’s typical tailback rotation with Javorius Allen (123 yards), Tre Madden (15 yards) and Ty Isaac (20 yards).

EARLY DRAMA

The Trojans and Bruins didn’t wait until kickoff to get in each other’s faces.

Two hours before the game, UCLA players were warming up on the field when USC players, coaches and family members entered the stadium for their now-traditional pregame prayer circle.

The Bruins gave some ground, but not much, and after the circle broke, small groups of players from both sides confronted each other. Words were exchanged, but there were no punches or shoving, and the players were separated by coaches and security guards after a couple minutes.

NOT SO SPECIAL

Special teams has been a strength for USC in recent weeks, but not early in Saturday’s game.

Kris Albarado’s first two punts traveled a total of 46 yards, and UCLA’s Ishmael Adams had a 47-yard kickoff return in the second quarter that allowed UCLA to start a drive at midfield.

LEONARD LEARNING

Florida natives such as Allen and safety Leon McQuay played in a USC-UCLA game for the first time. Fellow Floridian Leonard Williams said out-of-state players can have trouble grasping the significance of a heated West Coast rivalry.

“The big rivalry to me was Florida-Florida State,” Williams said. “I didn’t really feel it until last year, when we actually played them. Especially after the loss, I couldn’t wait to play them again.”

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